Subject: Baan Fah Sigh-y Bulletin - Greeetings all from the Land of Smiles

Hi, And a happy, prosperous & healthy New Year to all our friends in the UK

Apart from Sally's attached photos and November report, the big news was our Christmas Concert. This was entirely planned by our 13 year-old daughter 'Nok', who also MC-ed the 90 minute event, "for kids, by kids". The local children came with their parents <about 500 in all>, who I guess were keen to check us out at first hand as we have been custodians for their children for the past 4 months or so, every Sunday, when we hold kids' church in the Ian Pod - assisted, thatched - roof dining hall/kitchen/ staff hangout/TV room. This building has proved to be a blessing for staff, visitors and all the kids who come from local villages to learn, play on our playgound equipment and watch videos every Sunday. We hold birthday parties there for the kids too and it is a great place for staff to take a meal break when on or off shift. We feed and accommodate about 7 of our staff, freely, and feed the other 4 when on duty.

Because it is designed by an Aussie in northern Thai style and built by Thais <staff> supervised by Ian Pod, it gets lots of favourable comments from visitors, which we get a lot of, as the frame is not bamboo, but 1" steel tube, of minimal wall thickness. It includes a locked food - supplies store too, which makes it a very versatile focal point of the village

Phil made a video of the whole concert which featured the inmate toddlers dressed variously as Santas and Angels, none over 3 years old. The village kids performed a Christmas pantomime, danced around the Christmas tree, sang a few carols, in English!, as did the female staff, but in Thai, dressed in some of Sally's old dresses, then Nok led in games on stage for a multitude of prizes.

The new sand-covered sports field also gets a lot of use Sundays from the village children, when they play volleyball or football. The older girls especially, play with our toddlers, which gives them a bit of variety from the hard working staff and my family.

Robin, a born charmer

Phil Hohnen, Founder, facilitator